(Yicai Global) March 21 -- Chinese traditional medicine makers continue to face regulatory challenges in introducing products patented domestically to markets abroad, says the chairman of one of the leading players in the sector.

Chinese firms have been unable to receive any authorizations to date for the sale of their traditional medicine products internationally as pharmaceutical products, indicating it may be impossible for Chinese medicine products to enter such markets, said Xiao Wei, chairman of Jiangsu Kanion Pharmaceutical, during a press conference at the Two Sessions, the annual assemblies of China's top and legislative and political advisory bodies held in Beijing.

The Chinese traditional medicine industry has developed strongly in recent years, reaching a scale of almost CNY1 trillion (USD157 billion). However, opportunities for companies to expand overseas have been limited, and Xiao believes it will take a long time for the international market to develop.

Xiao attributes the challenges to distinct differences in theory between Chinese and western medicine and the lack of intersections between the two fields. He also blames the complexity of Chinese medicine's all-natural ingredients compared to chemical drugs, which leads to difficulties in ensuring uniform quality, safety and effectiveness of Chinese products.

The industry needs to explore Chinese medicines with curative therapeutic effects in advantageous areas and firstly promote them to international markets in order to get any foothold in international markets, Xiao said. He called for the establishment of industry standards for all processes, from sourcing raw materials to evaluating therapeutic effects of finished products.